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Will it be revenge for the Hawks for last year's devastating grand final loss? Will Geelong produce another stellar September to grab their fourth flag in seven years?

Can Fremantle break through for an historic AFL triumph, or could the Sydney Swans make it two in a row to seal their place as one of the great teams?

Aside from the main title contenders, there are also the other big stories, such as Richmond's emotional return to finals football, the surprising turnaround from Port Adelaide and whether Carlton can take advantage of its second chance due to the elimination of the Bombers from the finals.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn

19-3 record (1st)Attack (pts a game scored) 114.7 (1st)Defence (pts a game conceded) 84.5 (5th)Last won flag: 2008

The Hawks reinforced their favourites tag last Friday by coming from behind to down the Swans, but Lance Franklin's latest bump-gone-wrong could have big repercussions, with his one-match ban ruling him out of the rematch with last year's premiers.

The Swans' defence will not have to worry about him this weekend and if Cyril Rioli fails to pass tests on his ankle injury that will be another bonus for the Swans.

Geelong

Geelong

18-4 record (2nd)Attack (pts a game scored) 109.5 (2nd)Defence (pts a game conceded) 80.7 (4th)Last won flag: 2011

Geelong is in winning form, with four straight victories coming into the finals and a top-two finish to set up its campaign, but there are still serious questions about the capacity of Chris Scott's men to go all the way in September.

The Cats were made to look ordinary at times last week by Brisbane, coming within Paul Chapman's hand span of defeat against the Lions.

They need to improve their kicking accuracy, and not focus quite so much on handballs to get them out of trouble.

Having said that, this Cats' side is in better shape than the one that was dumped out of the finals by the Dockers last year.

Former steeplechaser Mark Blicavs gives them a tall who can run the opposition off their feet; Allen Christensen has stepped up his attacking play and when Geelong's established crew click, they can be all but unstoppable.

A home final against the Dockers at the fortress of Kardinia Park - where the Cats have won 42 of their last 43 games - should translate into a home win. If not, it will be a huge blow.

The big query is over spearhead Tom Hawkins' back injury - if his movement does not improve, the pressure will fall squarely on James Podsiadly to do the business for Geelong - or else Harry Taylor or captain Selwood will be forced to go forward.

For superstitious types, we are in an odd year - the Cats won the flag in 2007, 2009, 2011 … can they add 2013 to the list?

Fremantle Dockers

Fremantle

16-1-5 record (3rd)Attack (pts a game scored) 92.5 (12th)Defence (pts a game conceded) 69 (1st)Last won flag: Never

Last year the Dockers made a big finals breakthrough, beating Geelong at the MCG before losing a tight semi-final to the Crows at Football Park to miss out on a preliminary final.

Injuries have been a chronic problem at Fremantle in 2013, but despite numerous setbacks, the team goes into the finals in brilliant form.

Forget last week's training run against St Kilda, where Ross Lyon made 12 changes to the side to rest players for September - the Dockers have enjoyed seven wins from the previous eight matches.

Lyon has clearly put his stamp on the team, which is now the unchallenged number one defensive side in the competition.

If you believe the adage that defence wins championships, then the Dockers have to be a serious threat, given they have allowed a miserly 69 points a game against them, eight points a game better than the number two side Sydney.

But it is not just about shutdown football. The arrival of Danyle Pearce from Port Adelaide to join Stephen Hill has given Fremantle a rebound threat on both wings, while Nathan Fyfe and Michael Barlow have been back to their brilliant best in the midfield.

Veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands and captain Matthew Pavlich are lacking match fitness, but if Pavlich hits his straps and Hayden Ballantyne can stay on the park (with no injuries or suspensions) then together with Mayne and Michael Walters the Dockers will have a potent forward line indeed.

The question mark over the Dockers is their lack of games against the top sides this year thanks to a favourable draw. They will be fully tested now, starting with an unenviable trip to Geelong to face the Cats.

There has not been a premier from the west since the Eagles gained revenge over the Swans in 2006, and Fremantle has never won a flag in 18 years since its inception in 1995. The Dockers can break that drought, but they need things to go their way to get there.

Sydney Swans

Sydney

15-1-6 record (4th)Attack (pts a game scored) 102Defence (pts a game conceded) 77 (2nd)Last won flag: 2012

On face value, Sydney is not travelling into this year's finals as well as the team did last year on its way to the flag.

Sydney has been in volatile form, but this year the team has not been able to beat the big sides when it counts, losing to Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn in the last four weeks.

The other key difference was that the 2012 Swans went into finals with almost no key injuries, but this year Sydney has lost a number of players for the season and must make big calls on whether to risk injured or unfit players in September.

Adam Goodes is doubtful to see any finals action unless things change; Lewis Jetta will see action but he has not played senior football in 14 weeks and Lewis Roberts-Thomson is an important swingman for the Swans, but his knee injury makes him doubtful.

If fit, Jetta can be the x-factor for Sydney, with his pace and line-breaking capabilities.

The return of Daniel Hannebery in the midfield is critical to Sydney's chances, along with a return to best form for Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack , Ryan O'Keefe and Luke Parker.

The other question is how much of a role Kurt Tippett will play. The former Crow forward can be a game-winner with his marking and goal-kicking, but if Sydney looks to him too much as a target, it could backfire badly.

At their best, the Swans bring strong defensive pressure which will make life tough for any final opponents. Even with 10 premiership players out last week, they still gave the Hawks a big scare.

It does not look like Sydney's year right now, but a win over Hawthorn in week one could change that - and of course, you write off a defending premier at your peril.

Richmond

Richmond

15-7 record (5th)Attack (pts a game scored) 97.9 (5th)Defence (pts a game conceded) 79.7 (3rd)Last won flag: 1980

For the first time in 12 years it is finals time at Tigerland and there is genuine excitement in the air at Richmond.

Damien Hardwick has taken the club to the finals in his fourth year as coach. After so much heartbreak and years of near misses, the Tigers sealed their spot with weeks to go and enter September with confidence on the back of six wins from their last eight games.

The former Port Adelaide player Troy Chaplin has been a key recruit for the Tigers, providing a key defensive presence.

Daniel Jackson and Dustin Martin have had career years in the midfield and forward line, allowing Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio to play strongly without having to carry the side quite so much.

The Tigers are not a one-man outfit, but they need a healthy and firing Jack Riewoldt up forward if they are to cause problems for opposition sides.

Tyrone Vickery has flattered to deceive over time, but his improved marking and goal-kicking suggests he could be a big finals presence for Richmond, forcing defences to keep a close eye on him and potentially open up more opportunities for Riewoldt.

The first final against Carlton could well prove to be a grand final for the Tigers, given that there will be extraordinary emotion on display with a 90,000-plus crowd expected at the MCG.

A win would likely send them to Sydney to play the Swans, and while their 2013 adventure could well end there, it is certain the Tiger Army will break decibel levels for as long as their team are involved in September.

Collingwood

Collingwood

14-8 record (6th)Attack (pts a game scored) 97.6 (6th)Defence (pts a game conceded) 84.9 (6th)Last won flag: 2010

It has been an up and down year for Collingwood, with the Magpies looking well off the pace for much of the early part of the season.

But coach Nathan Buckley steered his side expertly through the second half of the year to give them a shot at doing some damage in the finals series.

The Magpies will take heart from last week's loss to North Melbourne, with Ben Reid's five-goal performance showing the defender's potential as a key forward.

Dane Swan has played slightly below his stellar standard over the whole season - although he has shown his brilliant best in a number of games.

Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Dayne Beams need to be at their peak for Collingwood to challenge. Harry O'Brien - who has had a challenging year off the field - proven he can be damaging playing off the wing when he is switched on.

Young Brodie Grundy has been a revelation in the ruck in the absence of Darren Jolly. On form and fitness, Grundy is a strong chance to be the man for the Pies in the finals, despite his lack of experience.

The problem for Collingwood is that the team still looks well short of matching Hawthorn, and even with an expected win in round one over Port Adelaide, it still leaves the likelihood of a trip west to play the Dockers, followed by a prelim final against the Hawks.

The Magpies will need to show big improvement to get close to a flag, but if Travis Cloke can find accuracy in front of goal to form a dangerous partnership with Reid, then the Pies could make things very interesting.

Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide

12-10 record (7th)Attack (pts a game scored) 93.2 (10th)Defence (pts a game conceded)Last won flag: 2004

Even the staunchest Power supporter would not have foreseen this quick a turnaround from the painful days after the sacking of coach Matthew Primus last season, but under Ken Hinkley Port Adelaide has been a revelation this season.

The Power have produced an exciting brand of football as good as any in the league when firing on all cylinders.

Brad Ebert, captain Travis Boak and Hamish Hartlett have all produced big seasons, although Port Adelaide would prefer if Hartlett returned to his early season form in time for the finals.

It has been up forward where the real transformation has occurred.

The Power's group of small forwards has come to the fore in 2013, with Chad Wingard, Angus Monfries, Robbie Gray and Jake Neade all capable of causing defences nightmares when on song.

Justin Westhoff has become the swingman rather than the spearhead, while a healthy Jay Schulz gives the Power a powerful marking target.

Consistency is still the key, and four quarter performances will be required for Port Adelaide to take the next step in finals.

On paper Collingwood should limit Port Adelaide's finals campaign to one match, but the Magpies would not want to take their foot off the pedal at any stage or they could become victim to a trademark Power surge.

Carlton

Carlton

11-11 record (8th)Attack (pts a game scored) 96.6 (8th)Defence (pts a game conceded) 90.5 (9th)Last won flag: 1995

Carlton can thank the AFL Commission for the team's presence in the finals, as an 11-11 record would not have been enough to qualify without the penalties handed down to Essendon.

Having said that, the Blues' desire to play finals cannot be questioned after their stunning comeback at Football Park to beat Port Adelaide and seal eighth spot.

A place in the finals is a first step for Carlton, which had big expectations with the arrival of Mick Malthouse as coach.

The biggest problem with the Blues in 2013 was a lack of consistency. At their best they looked capable of beating sides, but far too often they faded out of games with poor quarters or halves.

If Carlton is to go beyond the first week of finals, the team will have to do more than try to negate Richmond and play the attacking football it is capable of.

Swingman Lachie Henderson can do damage up forward, as can the mercurial Jarrad Waite, but a lot depends on Carlton's strength in the midfield and in rebounding from half-back.

Chris Yarran can be a game-changer with his run and carry, but Marc Murphy and the returning Chris Judd will have to have big games in the middle to counter the big loss of Brock McLean.

On form, Richmond will go in as justified favourites - the biggest thing going in Carlton's favour is the Tigers' lack of finals experience and the possibility they may be overwhelmed on the big stage.

It is hard to see the Navy Blues going any further than round two, but if they can get a finals win under their belt, it would be something for Malthouse to build on for 2014.